Apparatus for processing wire



M M AUSTIN ET AL APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING WIhE Filed Sept. 26., 1927 Get. 23, 1928.

Patented Oct. 23,1928.

1,688,481 PATENT OFFICE.

UNITED STATES AND CLARENCE W. BALKE, OF HIGHLAND PARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS TO FANSTEEL PRODUCTS COMPANY, INC., OF NORTH CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

MINER MANLY AUSTIN, OF WAUKEGAN,

AP-PARATUS FOR Application filed September This invention relates to apparatus for processing wire and pertains more particularly to means for removing carbon and gases from tantalum wire. In the process of drawing tantalum wire itis necessary to heat the surface of the wire in the presence of a lubricant, usually by applying a thin coat of graphite and drawing the wire through a heated tube. This forms a hard crust on the wire and by means of this crust or enamellike film the wire may be easily drawn through a die and in fact may be reduced several times before another treatment 15 required. This treatment, however, leaves the wire with a thin coating of carbon and during the heating process the tantalum may absorb gases. This renders the tantalum brittle and hard to handle.

The object of this invention is to provide a means for processing the wire whereby it is annealed, the carbon is removed, and the gases are driven 01f. v

A further object of this invention is to pro- -aide improved apparatus for continuously introducing wire into andleading it out of a vacuum without impairing said vacuum.

A further object of our invention is to associate a barometric tube with a vacuum chamber whereby wire may be introduced into the chamber through the tube.

A further object is to provide the exhaust pipe of the vacuum chamber and-the barometric tube with electrical contacts whereby the portion of the wire between these elements is heated to incandescence for annealing, eliminating carbon and/or driving out occluded gases.

A further object is to train the wire over.

a pulley supported by the exhaust pipe, guide the wire by a pulley in the mercury reservoir through the barometric tube, the mercury and the exhaust pipe being connected to an electrical supply and the barometric tube being provided with cooling means.

Other objects will be apparent as the detailed description of our invention proceeds.

A preferred embodiment of our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

A glass cylinder 10, preferably about inches long and 2 inches in diameter, is mounted by brackets 11 and 12 on a support 13 which is maintained in a vertical position.

The upper end of the cylinder is closed by a PROCESSING WIRE.

26, 1927. Serial No. 222,188.

rubber stopper 14 provided with a hole 15 for receivlng an exhaust pipe 16 for removlng gases from the cylinder 10. The exhaust pipe 16 is connected to a suitable vacuum pump 17 which may be of any desired construction.

The lower end of cylinder 10 is provided with a two-hole rubber stopper 18 through which are inserted barometric tubes 19 and 20. All of the joints between the cylinder and the stopper and between the stopper and the exhaust pipe and barometric tubes are protected by Vaseline 21 for effectually maintaining a perfect seal. 2 Tubes 19- and 20 are preferably about 35 lnches long and they extend downwardly into mercury reservoirs 22 and 23. These reservoirs-may be separate and distinct receptacles filled with mercury or they may be insulated parts of a single receptacle 24, said receptacle having a partition 25 for insulatmg the mercury in reservoirs 22 and 23. Receptacle 24 may be of any suitable insulating material such as glass, hard rubber, etc.

Secured to the bottom of receptacle 24, on each side of the partition 25, are suitable pulleys 26 and 27 supported by brackets 28 and 29 and arranged to direct a wire through tubes 19 and 20, respectively.

To cooperate with these pulleys, a pulley 30 is provided in the cylinder 10 and is preferably mounted by a bracket 31 on theinner end of pipe 16.

A pin 32 is mounted on the support 13 above the mercury reservoir 22 which is adapted to rotatably support a spool 33 carrying the tantalum wire 34 to be treated. A spring 35,.secured to the support by wood screws 36, has one end adapted to bear against the fiat surface of the spool to retard its rotation and maintain proper tension on the tantalum wire 34 as it is drawn through the apparatus. I

Above mercury reservoir 23. is a pin 37 for supporting a spool 38. which is driven by any suitable means such as a belt 39 and adapted to wind up the tantalum wire 34: after it has passed through the apparatus.

Barometric tube 20 is provided with a wav ter-jacket 40 in which a cooling liquid is introduced through pipe 41 and removed through pipe 42.

A suitable A. C. source 43 is connected tively.

through a transformer 44 to the pipe 16 and barometric tube 20 by'conductors 45 and 46 and suitable connectors 47 and 48, respec- A choke-coil 4:9 is preferably provided in the primary circuit for regulating the cur rent supplied to the wire, although any suitable current regulating means may be employed.

The circuit may switch 50'.

The operation of our scribed as follows:

Wire from spool 26, through tube through'tube 20, under pulley 27 and onto the winding spool 38. The pump 17 is then started, whichremoves gases from cylinder 10, causing a decrease in pressure whereby the mercury from reservoirs22 and 23 is caused to rise in tubes 19 and 20. A vacuum of about .001 to .005 millimeters is preferably used which means that the mercury will rise to a height of about 28 inches above the reservoir.

Tube 19 is preferably of glass so that there be opened and closed by a device may be de- 33 is-trained under pulley I will be less chance-for electrical short circuit.

' amperes at 60 volts has been found satisfac-' Tube 20 is preferably of iron or other suitable metal so that it will serve as a conductor and will not be affected by temperature changes which must necessarily occur when the hot wire is drawn through it.

When a suitable vacuum has been established, switch is closedand the winding spool 38 is set in motion by belt. 39. The wire is heated to about 1000 to 1200 0. between the pulley 30 and the mercury in tube 20.

he exact temperature cannot accurately be ascertained but must vary under different conditions. Treating a tantalum wire about .01 inches in diameter, a current .of about 5 tory. It is necessary, of course, to maintain the temperature below the point. at which the metal would becomeso soft as to be pulled apart.

Some carbon is emitted and deposited on 1 the sides of cylinder 10. Gases are expelled and removed through the vacuum pump. Oxides that may be present inthe crust are reduced by the carbon thereon and the resulting carbon monoxid is removed by the vacuum pump. Thus substantially all the impurities are removed from the wire by this treatment.

The heated wire is then cooled by the mercury in tube 20 which is, in turn, maintained at substantially constant temperature by a water-jacket 40 While we have described our invention as applied to processing of tantalum wire, it is evident that apparatus may be used in processing any wire wherein heat treatment in a vacuum is necessary.

Furthermore, we do not limit ourselves to the specific details given in our preferred em- 19, over pulley 30, down,

bodiment. It is evident that other forms of vacuum chambers, etc., may be used without departing from the spirit of our invention, and we do not limit ourselves except as defined by the following claims.

Weclaim 1. In apparatus for processing Wire, a sealed chamber, means for exhausting gases from said chamber, means for continuously passing a wire into and out of said chamber without b-re'akingthe seal and an electrical circuit including a portion of the means for exhaust-ing gases and a portion of the means for passing the wire out of the chamber.

2. In apparatus for processing wire, a sealed chamber, means for exhausting gases from said chamber, and a means including a tube communicating with said chamber and containing a sealingliquid whereby a wire may be drawn into or out of said chamber through said sealing fluid without impairing said seal.

3'. In combination, a sealed chamber, means for exhausting gases from said chamber, a liquid reservoir below said chamber, a liquid in said reservoir, a tube communicating with said chamber and with the liquid in the reservoir, and means in said chamber for directing a wire through said tube without impairing the vacuum in the chamber.

4. In combination, a sealed chamber, means for passing a wire into and out of said chamber without breaking the seal, an exhaust pipe, means associated with said exhaust pipe for changing the direction of the wire in the chamber and heating means in electrical circuit including a portion of the means for exhausting gases and a portion of the means for passing the wire out of the chamber.

5. In combination, a sealed chamber, an exhaust pipe extending into said chamber for removing gases therefrom, a tube communicating with said chamber, ,a mercury seal in said tube, connections from. said pipe and said mercury seal to a source ergy, means whereby a wire is drawn out of said chamber through said tube and means whereby said wire completes the circuit between said pipe and said mercury seal.

6. In combination, a sealed chamber, means for exhausting gases from said chamber, a mercury reservoir spaced below said chamber, a tube connecting said reservoir with said chamber whereby the diminished pressure in the chamber causes the mercury to rise in said tube and to maintain a seal, means for continuously passing a wire through said chamber and through said tube, and means including connections to said exhaust means and said mercury whereby the wireis heated in the reduced pressure of the sealed chamber.

7. In combination, a sealed chamber, means for exhausting gases from said chamber, two mercury reservoirs spaced at a lower of electrical enreservoir and said elevation than said chamber, two tubes communicating with said chamber and extending into said mercury reservoirs, guiding means in said reservoirs and in said chamber for leading a wire into said chamber through one tube and out of it through the other and means for heating a portion of the wire in the chamber.

8. In combination, a vacuum chamber, a pipe communicating therewith for removing gas from said chamber, a pulley secured to the pipe inside the chamber, mercury reservoirs spaced below said chamber, tubes communicating with said chamber and said reservoirs whereby the vacuum causes the mercury to rise in said tubes to indicate the difference between the pressure inside the chamber and the pressure on said reservoirs, pulleys in said reservoirs for directing a wire through said tubes, a source of electrical energy, and connections from said source to said firstnamed pulley and the mercury in one of said tubes whereby a wire may be trained into one reservoir, through one tube, over the firstnamed pulley, through the other tube, and out of the other reservoir, the portion of the wire between the first-named pulley and the mercury in the last-named tube being heated by said electrical energy.

9. In combination, a vacuum chamber, a barometric tube associated therewith for determining the pressure in said chamber, a second barometric tube associated therewith and provided with a coolingmeans,apulley in said chamber, a source of electrical energy, a connection between said source and said pulley, a second connection between the other side of said source and the mercury in said second barometric tube, and means to direct wire into the chamber through said first tube, over said pulley, and out of said chamber through said second tube whereby the wire between the pulley and the second tube is heated to drive off carbon and gaseous impurities.

' In witness whereof, we hereunto subscribe our names this 21st day of September, 1927. MINER MANLY AUSTIN.

CLARENCE W. BALKE. 

